Clayton thinks Seahawks could cut WR Golden Tate

Pete Carroll said during the offseason that he had planned to use second-year WR Golden Tate more in 2011. (AP)

By Brady Henderson

Golden Tate has followed up his underwhelming rookie season with a disappointing preseason, failing to inspire confidence that he can assume the bigger role coach Pete Carroll said he envisioned for the second-year wide receiver.

ESPN's John Clayton told the "Kevin Calabro Show" on Tuesday that he doesn't think it's a given that Tate will make the team.

"All I know is that there's an undrafted guy [rookie Doug Baldwin] that kind of has the same type of body and does the same types of things that he does," Clayton said. "All of the sudden you might see an undrafted guy beat out a second-round pick."

Tate has four catches for 24 yards during the preseason. He failed to haul in a catchable pass in the first quarter against the Vikings, and the ball was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. He was benched for the remainder of the half.

Baldwin, meanwhile, has eight catches for 62 yards and returned a kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown on Saturday against the Broncos.

The Seahawks had a first-round grade on Tate and jumped at the chance to take him when he fell to the second round of the 2010 draft. Could they give up so quickly on a player they were so high on a year ago, especially considering the steep learning curve young receivers often face?

"They could," Clayton said. "Pete Carroll is not afraid to make bold moves. ... Nothing surprises you when you get to these cuts."

The Seahawks play their final preseason game on Friday against the Raiders, then must reduce their roster from 80 to 53 by Saturday afternoon.